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Why Different Sequence Sizes Matter

publish date: 2026/06/18 03:41:34.583991 UTC

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The guideline recommends using different sequences of different sizes in different tests. What is the primary reason for this?

Different sizes are required to satisfy code coverage metrics

Larger sequences always reveal more defects than smaller ones

Different sequence sizes decrease the chances that a defective program accidentally produces a correct output

Using the same size sequences would exceed memory limits in the test environment

Correct Answer

Different sequence sizes decrease the chances that a defective program accidentally produces a correct output

Explanation

Using different sequences of different sizes decreases the chances that a program with defects will accidentally produce a correct output because of some accidental characteristic of the input. A defective program might coincidentally produce correct results for a specific size, so varying sizes makes tests more robust.

Reference

Software Engineering, Ian Sommerville, 10th edition

Quizzes you can take where this question appears

Choosing Unit Test Cases - Guideline-Based Testing